Garment and like presses



S. NEWBERY Oct. 27, 1953 GARMENT AND LIKE PRESSES s Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27. 1949 Oct. 27, 1953 r s. NEwBEmF GARMENT AND LIKE PRES-SE8 Filed Sept. 27, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 luv ezzxboz Oct. 27, 1953 s. NEWBERY GARMENT AND LIKE PRESSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 27. 1949 Patented Oct. 27, 1953 GARMENT AND LIKE PRESSES Stanley Newbery, New Barnet, England, assignmof one-half to Stanley Newbery Limited, New

Barnet, England Application September 27, 1949, Serial No. 117,968 In Great Britain October 6, 1948 Claims.

This invention relates to garment and like Dresses for laundry, dry cleaning, and like clothes or cloth pressing operations, and has reference to a machine of known character wherein a pair of fixed lower bucks are disposed longitudinally end to end and a single upper buck is mounted for oscillation about an axis at right angles to the longitudinal arrangement of the lower bucks, to bring the upper buck into the pressing position over each lower buck alter nately, in order that while a garment is being pressed on one of the lower bucks the attendant may lay out a garment for pressing on the other buck.

If normal length lower bucks (of, say, t2") are employed in a machine as above outlined, the radius of arcuate movement of the upper buck would require to be so long that the machine would suiier from installation and practical defeet-s. An aim of the present invention is to circumvent this difficulty and provide a garment press unit having a. pair of longitudinally disposed lower bucks, including bucks of normal or greater length, alternately covered by a single upper buck oscillable about an axis of relatively short radius such as is suitable for co-operation with lower bucks of normal or greater length.

The invention consists in a garment or like press having an oscillable upper buck adapted to co-operate alternately with each of a pair of lower bucks for the purpose indicated wherein the upper buck is oscillable at relatively short radius and each of the lower bucks is displaceable towards the path of the upper buck at its extremes of oscillation.

The invention also consists in a garment or like press having an oscillable upper buck adapted to co-operate alternately with each of a pair of lower bucks for the purpose indicated wherein the upper buck is oscillable at relatively short radius and each of the lower bucks is alternately displaceable to locate such in position adjacent the path of the upper buck preparatory to the pressing operation.

The invention further consists in a garment or like press having an oscillable upper buck adapted to co-operate alternately with each of a pair of lower bucks wherein a substantially rectilinear upper buck is oscillated at relatively short radius and each of the lower bucks is substantially rectilinear and wherein relative displacement towards one another is provided between the upper buck and each of the lower bucks alternately at the extremes of the path of oscillation of the upper buck.

As an example of the phrase relatively short radius a radius of about 4 feet may be taken as typical but it is to be understood that this dimension may be increased or decreased somewhat while still achieving the desired result.

When in pressing relationship a bringing together of a positioned lower buck and the upper buck may be efiected for imposing the pressing pressure and in one form of the invention, it is preferred for this purpose to impart a power movement to the upper buck radially while the lower buck is held; in another form the upper buck is held while the co-acting lower buck carries out the power movement.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a garment press according to the invention,

Figure 2 is an end view,

Figure 3 is a rear View of the radial arm shown in a central or neutral position,

Figure 4 is a detail of the supporting links of a lower buck looking in the direction of arrow :0 in Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a front view of another embodiment of a garment press according to the invention, and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the press shown in Figure 5.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode, described by way of example, as applied to the production of a garment press for laundry or like work, a hollow pedestal 1 (Figures 1 to 4) is provided on which a table 2 is horizontally mounted. The pedestal may be cast or framed sheet metal or fabricated channel element. The forward portion 3 of the table may be bayed for the convenience of access to the bucks by the attendant and may also serve as a mounting for the usual controls for the press. The rear of the table may have a back plate the upper portion of which may be an arc concentric with the arcuate movement which is imparted to the upper buck i. Over the table a pair of longitudinally aligned lower bucks 5, 6 are mounted as hereinafter descirbed.

In the lower portion of the pedestal I bearings 7 are mounted for a rock shaft 8 arranged with its axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the lower bucks 5, E5 and table 2.

Towards the rear end of the shaft 8 an oscillable radial arm structure 9 of channel or twin lever form for supporting the upper buck 4 is fixedly mounted. At the upper end of this radial arm 9 a lever 10, H of bent or bell-crank form is pivotally secured. The shorter arm to of the bell-crank lever extends forwardly over the table and above the lower bucks 5, 6 and has the upper buck 4 resiliently secured thereto so that it extends at right-angles to the lever arm H! on each side thereof and may overlie each lower buck 5, 6 in turn. The lQIl er arm I l of the bell-lever 10, ll extends downwardly and is partially housed between the twin levers of the radial arm 9. Means are provided for giving a pressing displacement to the bell-crank lever W, H to move the upper buck 4 downwardly upon one or other side of the lower bucks 5, 6. One convenient means of imparting motion tolthe bell-crank lever to, I! is a toggle and crank motion. "The'l'ower end of the bell-crank arm H is connected to a to gm linka e l2. 3 the fixe pi t 4 of whi h is mounted upon the twin levers of the arm 9 while the central pivot l5 of the toggle is con nected to the piston rod [6 of a piston moving in a compressed air cylinder l'l coupled to usual supply for operating a garment press. The outward end l8 of the cylinder I! may be pivotally mounted between the twin levers of the arm 9 and to a fitting I9 to which the levers are secured and by which the arm 9 is secured to the shaft 6. The shaft 8 for the radial arm 9, in that portion which extends into the hollow pedestal i, has a double armed' lever forming a pair of cranks 20, which are displaced symmetrically on either side of the axial plane of the radial arm 6 for 'operatively displacing the lower bucks 5, 6 in opposite sense.

Alternatively the crank maybe in the form of a quadrant plate. In either case the spaced 3*,"

crank pins 22,2 3 are pivotally connected to cylinders 24, or slideways in which lower buck actuating rods 26, 2! are guided, each rod having a stop 28, 29 engaged by its cylinder so that upon oscillation of the crank 26 or 21 the respective rod 2601' 2'! is thrust upwardly. Compression springs 36, 3| are arranged between the stops 28, 26 and the lower ends of the cylinders 24, 26, the arrangement being such that a certain amount of lost motion is permitted between the cylinders 24, 25 and the rods 26, 2'! to accommodate the excess movement of the cranks 20, 2| over and above that which is required to cause the displacement of the lower bucks 5 and 6. The displacement of the lower bucks 5, 6 in opposed directions is obtained by the disposition of the pivots 22, 23 on the opposite side of the shaft axis. The radial arm'9 maybe oscillated to and fro through a predetermined angle which in the present case is preferably about This oscil- '-lation may be imparted by a piston and cylinder, making use of the pneumatic system common in garment presses but it is preferred to impart this motion to theradial arm mechanically from a motorised crank, or eccentric. Thus the shaft 32 is coupled by a rod or linkage to the radial arm 9 at a suitable distance from its axis. The linkage incorporates an eccentric 33 on the shaft 32 and a coupling rod 34 which is pivoted at its lower end by apin 35, to the fitting ii! of the arm 9.

The shaft 32 forms the output shaft of a reduction gearbox 36 driven by belts 31 from a motor unit 38 having suitable clutch means. This arrangernent is preferred as such is independent of any rise or fall in the pneumatic pressure of the system, and it will be appreciated, owing to the position of thee'cc'entric 33, that the travel of the upper buck 4 will accelerate from one pressing position tothe mid position and 'decelerate in the fi. travelling from such to the other pressing position.

The lower bucks 5, 6 are arranged longitudinally end to end and with the radial arm 9 of the upper buck 4 in the mid position (i. 6. vertical position) the two bucks 5 and 6 are slightly inclinedfrom the horizontal, their inner ends being tilted a few degrees somewhat above their outward ends. This slight tilting of the two bucks and 6 is not discernable on the scale of illustrations used for the drawings. The inner ends of thebuck's '6, 6 lie adjacent one another with a suitable working clearance. In this position it will be seen that the bucks 5, 6 lie as chords to the arc of oscillation of the upper buck 4 and the outward ends of the bucks may cut the arc and extendoutwardly beyond such. When the upper buck arm 6 is at the end of its swing the opposite lower buck 6 or 6 is turned to the horizontal position while the other buck 6 or 5 is raised to the pressing position.

The mounting for the lower bucks 5 and 6 are duplicates one of the other; thus it will be necessary only to describe one of such arrangements. The centre of the lower side of the buck has a pair of lugs or flanges 39 which are pivotally secured on an axis parallel to the axis of the radial arm shaft 9, at the outer end of link members 40, the lower ends of which are pivoted at 41 to a suitable frame support 42 which may be common to both bucks 5, 6. l his fixed pivotal axis 4| is located in the radial plane passing through the axis of oscillation of the radial arm 9 and the axis of pivotal attachment -63 of the outer end of the link structure 46 to the buck when the buck is raised, so that in the pressing position the link 46 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the arm 9. Spaced from the central linkage axis43 a second link 46 located inwardly of the lugs is pivotally attached there to the buck. The lower end of this second link is pivotally mounted at 65 on .the frame support 42 and the fixed pivots 4i and 45 of both links at their lower ends are spaced further apart than their pivots to the buck flanges 66 at their upper ends in order that .the links instead of being effectively parallel, diverge slightly outwardly towards their lower ends and afford a stable abutment in the pressing position.

Any suitable means may be provided for imparting movement from the crank device 26, 2| of the shaft 8 through the connecting rods 26, 2.1 in order to give the bucks 5 and 6 an upward displacement into a position in which they lie in a plane substantially parallel to a tangent of the arc of movement of the upper buck 4. According to one convenientmode the second link 44 referred to above is formed with a bell-crank lever extension 46 beyond the pivotal axis 45. The respective rod 26 or 2! from the oscillating arm crank 26 or 2! is pivoted to the lever extension 46, the arrangement being such that as the upper buck 4 is oscillated to and fro, that lower buck 5 or 6 towards which the upper buck is moving is thrust upwardly into the tangential position referred to above, and the oscillating arm shaft 8 the arm 9 and the centre of the buck 5 or 6 lie substantially in a radial plane of the axis of oscillation.

It will thus be seen that the lower bucks 5 and 6 are alternately raised and lowered in synchronism with the arcuate oscillatory movement of the upper buck 4 from one pressing position or the other, and accordingly access to one of the bucks 5 or 6 is always free and unobstructed for laying out a garment while the other buck is co-operating in a pressing operation.

The linkwork 40, 44 described above is such that the buck 5 or 6 which is in the laying position occupies a substantially horizontal position, moving thereinto as the upper buck radial arm 9 passes the vertical position in moving to overlie the other buck for the pressing operation thereon. The disposition of the links 40, 44 when each buck is raised to the pressing position rigidly takes the pressing thrust. A stop may be conveniently provided which co-operates with one or other of the links 40, or 44 to check each lower buck 5 or in the horizontal position and allow the radial arm crank 20, 2| to proceed to the end of its stroke against the resistance of a spring 30, 3I located in the rod guide cylinder'24 or 25 while on the return movement the first portion thereof is absorbed by the lost motion connection referred to above. As this is taken up the crank cylinder engages the stop 28 or 29 on the thrust rod and through the lever extension 46 of the second link 44, thrusts the buck or B into the tangential position ready for the descent of the overhanging upper buck 4 for the pressing operation.

The bayed portion of the table 2 may conveniently be provided with the usual press-button or like controls for the pneumatic operation of the pressing displacement of the upper buck and the oscillation of the upper buck 4. These controls are of known form and are interconnected in such a way that both hands of the operators are occupied when causing the descent of the upper buck in the pressing operation and the arrangement is such that the upper buck 4 cannot be oscillated until the pressing operation is complete. After the pressing operation is complete the upper buck 4 is raised and then the radial arm 9 swings over to the other end of its stroke concurrently with the lowering to the horizontal position of the buck which has just received the pressure, and the raising of the other buck to the pressing location ready for the pressing descent of the upper buck when it has reached the other end of its oscillatory stroke,

The lower bucks 5, Ii may be of the same length, that is to say, for example, the normal 42"; or one of the bucks may be 42" and the other one 52", the extra being added to the outward end, in which case the upper buck is made 52" long and when over the shorter of the lower bucks idly overlaps such on the inward side to the extent of about 10". Where both lower bucks 5, 6 are required to be 52" long the extra length being added outwardly, then the upper buck 4 is made about 62" overall and in each pressing position the upper buck idly overlaps the inward end of the lower buck with which it is co-operating. Furthermore, although the bucks would normally be rectangular in plan it will be appreciated that such may be tapered or of other form according to the nature of the garments to be pressed.

Although in one embodiment it is preferred to employ a radial arm 9 moving about a fixed axis for supporting the upper buck 4, it will be appreciated that a similar effect can be secured by mounting the upper buck upon a pair of parallel or other links in such a manner that the buck has a similar oscillatory movement to bring it alternately over one and the other of the lower bucks which are displaced into the pressing position by suitably modified mounting means.

According, therefore, to a further embodiment of the invention, by way of example, as similarly applied to a garment press for laundry or like Work, a supporting pedestal IOI (Figures 5 and 6) is provided on which a table I02 is horizontally mounted. The pedestal may be cast or framed sheet metal or fabricated channel element. The forward portion I 03 of the table may be bayed for the convenience of access to the bucks by the attendant and may also serve as a mounting for the usual controls of the press. Over the table a pair of longitudinally aligned lower bucks I05, I 06 are mounted as hereinafter described.

In the lower portion of the pedestal IOI bearings I01 are mounted for a rock shaft I08 arranged with its axis transverse to the table I02 and longitudinal arrangement of the lower bucks I05, I06. At or towards the rear end of the shaft I08 is fixedly mounted one link I09 of a pair of parallel oscillable radial links which carry the upper buck I04 and of which the other link H0 is similarly carried by a shaft III mounted on bearings H2 in the pedestal IOI similarly to and symmetrical with the bearings I0'I of the shaft I08. At their upper ends each of the links I00, I I0 carries an upper buck supporting arm, I I3 or H4, respectively, each in the form of a shaft pivotally mounted in bearings I I5 and I? I6 at the ends of the links. The two arms H3 and H4 carry a locking bracket Hi, to be described hereafter, and a mounting bracket IIB to which the upper buck I04 is resiliently secured.

The links I09 and H0 are equal in length and the spacing between the axes of the arms I I3 and I I4 is equal to the spacing between the axes of the shafts I08 and III, so that the links I09, H0 comprise a parallel link mountingwhich, on oscillation of the links about their lower shafts I08 and III, will maintain the upper buck I04 substantially horizontal and parallel with the plane of the lower bucks I04 and I05.

To impart oscillation to the parallel links through a predetermined angle, in the present instance approximately 58, any convenient suitable mechanism may be employed which, as illustrated, comprises a motorised crank. and eccentric as shown in the press described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Thus a reduction gear box I I3 transmits drive to eccentric I20 on a shaft I2I and to a coupling rod I22 which is pivoted at its lower end by a pin I23 to a crank I24 on the shaft I08. The crank I24 and the mounting collar I25 at the lower end of the link I09 are nonrotatably secured to the shaft I08 as by key I26, I21. The intermittent drive required is conveniently provided by a motor and clutch mechanism I28 under the control of the press operator.

The lower bucks I05 and I06 are mounted on the supporting pedestal IOI by a bracket I23 having a pair of cantilever arms I30 and. I3I ex-' tending outwardly on either side of the pedestal and each terminating in vertically disposed sleeve: I32 which slidingly accommodates a supporting;

post 534 extending downwardly from each of the lower bucks I05 and I06 respectively. At the lower end of each of the posts I34, a toggle linkage I 36 is connected whereby an upward displacement may be given to each of the lower bucks in turn in synchronism with the placing of the upper buck thereover to press the cooperating bucks together. Each toggle linkage is pivoted at its lower end to the supporting pedestal IOI ona bracket I35 and has an operating force applied to its centre pivot I3I in synchronism with the position of the upper buck by any convenient power means, preferably as illustrated, bya fluid displacement piston and cylinder'device I38 supon; thepedestal "it. and: era e by: a known typ of pneumatic: en ra mea e- "like u per end; of; the toggle linka e L 5: ma be e 11.- nec ed: to the; lowe end ofr aeh nes 3 byan adjus ab e head L39; to. allow ad s men s, o t e operative thr w f; each. w r bu k,

In order to brace or look the upper bucl; I Q4 a ainst. movem nt under the pw d e e f thelower b ck ila or; 1 a t e up r ck. 4- or its supporting linkage [09, I lrll may be temporarily locked to the pedestal; [0,], the bracket {2 9' or to any other comen nt ri d: and mmova le pa or the machine. by a y; su ble nown m. of look n r anch rin d v e p ef r embodiment, the lockin or b acin m ans om.- prise the previously mentioned locking bracket H1, hung from theupper ends of the links "19-, [It entirerms H31 and I I4 and s c re ag ns lateral movem nt th r o y a pa r f l 1 At itslower end the bracket Hl has an aperture 142a adapted to receive a h a y bolt Hi3 slid ely mounted on a, bracket; I44, extending outwardly and dow w rd y from ac i h Sleeves 3 1 the lower bugle supporting arms i3ll and I3! of the mainbraeket I119. The bolt M3 is arranged to moi/rein andw outof' ock s; r atio sh p W t e aperture [42 invthe bracket I H in timed relationshin to the p eviou y me ed upward d placement it the lower bucks in operation. To

this end each bolt 1A3 has an extension piece 145 disposed; al n side thelow r u k pp r in pe 1.3.4; and prov ded with a ch n e lee inclined t the-direction of movement of the bolt. Within the channel M5; is accommodated a roller i4 1 rotatab y mounted onon side of the post I34 as by. a shaft 148;, such. that on pw r or d n d d placement of hepost I3 by h t g mechanism I35, 131%, the oll r M y n a m in the inclined channel I45 displaces the bolt I43 into and out ofengagement with the aperture 1A2 inthc brachet l IT, thus, locking the upper buck I'M. to the main structure during upward pressing movement; of the lower bucks. Rota.- tion of, the bolt I l-3; with respect to its bracket I4! is prevented; by a pin and slot guide M9. While the cam. action of the roller and inclined channel means. has been described above as a preferred form oi effecting timed displacement of thelocking bolt, it is to be understood that any other suitable known device for effecting such displacement may be utilised.

In operation the upper buck Hi4 will be moved by the parallel links; i219, HQ alternatively over each lower buck, the respective lower buck; is

then git/ en an upwarddisplacement by means of theltoggle mechanis to complete the pressing operation. At the same time, the upward displacement of the lower; buck causes the bolt I4 3 to engage the bracket H1 and so look the upper buck during thepressing operation. On completionof the pressing operation, the lower buck 1sv moved downwardly from the upper buck dis:

engaging the bolt and allowing the upper buck to be swung across to the other lower buck where t e. o1;era i nv s e e t d- I claim:

1 A garment o lilge press comprising a supporting structure, apairor lower bucks movably mountedon saidstructure and normally disposed in a longitudinally aligned end to end relation: ship, an upper buck having a pressing surface only. on the underside thereof and piyotally mounted about a, horizontal axis on said strucu e b d sillae ab e in a th n a n ng. the

vertical plane passin h u h thel nsitudinal oi he-lower bucks hereb t a be esei lated to co-operate alternately with each of the lawe bu lie i teresti g pur os m ans p r ns; etwe ne d str an a upper bu k for oscillating saidupper buck about said horizontal; axis at relatively short radius on an aroua t e path; terminating at each end over a lower buc lg; and means operating independently between structure and each of said lower nois fo a ernate i p a a fid lower from their normal dispositions to locate such a position closely.- adj acent the upper buck at the 11d. 01; its arcuate path preparatory to the pressing operation.

2. A garment or l-ilge press comprising a sup-.- p rting struc e. a pail? 0f ct ne lower bucks movably mounted on said structure and norma y di po ed. in a s tud n r a i end to e. d. rel: i r c il ea pp bu h he amas in suri e o ly on t underside t eofi'and pivotally mounted about a horizontal a i g Qnsaid structure to be displaeeable about said horizontal; axis in an'arcuate path; over the lower bucks means operating between said structure andsaidupper buck for displacing the upper huele along; said path to locate the upper buck .4? thev extremesof said; path alternately over and ad acent: ach of, the lo r bucks d a s perating between said structure and the lower i -o pksso as to cause a relative displacement between the upperbuclg; and the lower bucks alternately' when the upper buck reaches the extremes 0;? said path t bring the adjacent bucks n o pressin relatio ship.

A: eat. m: or ke.- scom a pporting structure, a pair of rectilinear lower bucks movably mounted on said structure and to tal y lisno ed; in a on t din y a e end-Ito end relationshh) a rectilinear upper buck hfiY i pressin sur ace n y. 0 the underside thereof and piyotally mounted about a horizontal axis on said structure to. be displaceable about said horizontal axis in an arouate path over the lower bucks means operating between said structure and said;- upperbuel; for displacing the upper buckalong said path to locate the upper buck at the extremes oi saidpath alternately over and adjacent each of the lower bucks and means ope-rating between said structure and the upper buck so as to cause a relative displacement between the upperbuck; and'the lower bucks alternately when the upper buck reaches the extremes of said path to bring the adjacent bucks into pressi g r at i hip-v 4 A garment or like press comprising a supporting structure, a. pair of rectilinear lower bucks movably mounted on said, structure and normally disposed in a longitudinally aligned end toe rela o shina rectilin arvupp r buck h ving' a pressing surface only on the underside thereofand pivotally; mounted about a horizontal axis onsaid; structure to be displaceable about said horizontal axis about an arcuate path over the lower bucks, means operating between said structure andsaid upper buck for displacing the upper buck along said path to locate the upper buch at the extremes of said path alternately over and adjacent each of the lower bucks and mean operating between said, structure and each of the lower bucksso as to cause each lower buck to be displacedi 'om a loading position in the general line of a. common chord of said arcuate path or the upper buck, to alternately occupied a pressing IocatiQns n hich ea h lower buck in turn lies parallel to the upper buck at its adjacent extreme of said arcuate path.

5. A garment or like press according to claim 4, wherein the means operating between said structure and each of the lower bucks for effecting displacement of the latter comprise a lever linkage having an operative connection with the means for displacing said upper buck over its arcuate path, each linkage being adapted to displace its associated lower buck to position it in its said pressing location in accordance with the displacements of the upper buck.

6. A garment or like press according to claim 5, wherein for each of the lower bucks said lever linkage comprises a pair of link arms pivoted at spaced points to a lower buck and to a support on said structure, one of said link arms being 00incident with the radius of the upper buck when in the pressing location opposite a lower buck and the other of said link arms being provided with a lever extension connected by a coupling rod to the means for displacing the upper buck.

7. A garment or like press according to claim 6, wherein the means for displacing the upper buck over its arcuate path include a horizontally disposed rockshaft journalled in said structure, an arm secured at one end to the rockshaft and at its other end carrying the upper buck, and a two arm lever also secured to the rockshaft, the arms of said lever being connected to said coupling rods for operating the lower buck lever linkages.

8. A garment or like press according to claim 2, wherein the means for displacing the upper buck over its arcuate path include a parallel arm linkage pivotally mounted at its lower end to said structure and carrying at its upper end the upper buck and a horizontally disposed rockshaft journalled in said structure and secured to the lower end of one of the arms of said parallel arm linkage so that the upper buck when displaced moves parallel to itself.

9. A garment or like press according to claim 8, wherein interengageable mean are carried part on said structure in operative association with each of the lower bucks and part on the parallel arm linkage in order to lock the upper buck in its position at each extreme of said arcuate path prior to pressing.

10. A garment or like press according to claim 9, wherein the said interengageable means part which is in operative association with each of the lower bucks include a slideable bolt carried on said structure, and the said interengageable means part on the parallel arm linkage comprises co-operating apertured means with which the bolt can enter into locking engagement, means being associated with said bolt and operated in response to the displacement movement of its associated lower buck for moving said bolt into locking engagement with said apertured means and retracting said bolt after a separating movement is made by the associated lower buck after pressing is completed.

STANLEY NEWBERY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,220,591 Benjamine et al. Mar. 27, 1917 1,328,807 Balzer Jan. 27, 1920 2,266,425 Kahn Dec. 16,1941

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 513,084 Great Britain Oct. 3. 1939 

